Philippines: Disaster risk reduction 101

Four priorities are indispensable for disaster risk reduction, according to Dean Tony La Viña, writing for the Manila Standard Today: a new organizational framework that is more prepared and responsive to disasters, information management, approaching disaster risk reduction from a national, cooperative perspective, and addressing the root causes of disasters. Land use and adequate urban planning are key, as well as mainstreaming disaster risk management into policy making. "In sum, Disaster Reduction 101 is simple: acknowledge the hazards that come with our geography but reduce our exposure and vulnerability to those hazards."